A brave performance from Niamh Fisher-Black did not reap final rewards on a cold and wet day for the elite women’s world championship road race in Zurich, Switzerland.

The 24-year-old professional finished 25th, dropping off the back of a select lead group after battling at the front of the race until the penultimate lap of the city circuit in the 154km race.

Riders battled continual race, slippery roads, and cold conditions throughout, with the kiwi rider in strong form on the back of an outstanding performance in the recent Tour de Romandie.

Fisher-Black, the 2022 under-23 world champion, played a prominent role as a select group pushed off the front early, and she remained present in the lead pack until swallowed up by a strong chasing bunch on the penultimate lap.

The 24-year-old kiwi, who moves to the Lidl-Trek World Tour team next season, sat-up to ease her way to the finish in 25th place, nine minutes back from defending winner Lotte Kopecky (Belgium).

Kopecky prospered in the sprint finish over American Chloe Dygert and Italian Eliza Longo-Borghini, who will become Fisher-Black’s new teammate next year.

The conditions decimated the race with fellow kiwi riders Henrietta Christie and Ella Wylie among three-quarters of the 154-strong field that did not complete the course.

The championships conclude tomorrow with the 195 riders from 57 nations in the elite men’s road race over a gruelling 274kms, that includes kiwis George Bennett, Finn Fisher-Black and Reuben Thompson.

Results, Elite Women’s Road Race, 154km: Lotte Kopecky (Bel) 4:05.26, 1; Chloe Dygert (USA) same time, 2; Elise Longo Borghini (ITA) same time, 3. Also NZers: Niamh Fisher-Black at 9:01, 25; Henrietta Christie, Elle Wylie dnf.